[0001] The present invention relates to a system for dispensing documents, and has particular
application to a system for dispensing currency bills.
[0002] A currency dispenser for automatically dispensing a required amount of money as desired
by a customer-operator of the machine is well known in the art. However, the reliability
of a currency dispenser is of extreme importance, particularly when the currency dispenser
is not supervised in any direct manner. For example, considerable inconvenience may
be caused to customers if, upon the entry of authorized customer requests, the machine
fails to operate because the dispenser malfunctions or is out of cash.
[0003] In U.S. Patent No. 4282424 there is disclosed an automatic currency dispensing system
in which a plurality of currency dispensing consoles are arranged on a service counter,
with an electrical control section for common use being disposed under the service
counter. With this system a customer can use any one of the currency dispensing consoles.
However, inconvenience will still be caused to a customer if, upon entry of an authorized
customer request into a selected console, the console does not operate because the
respective dispenser fails to dispense currency bills for any reason.
[0004] From IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin 1973, pages 906 to 911, there is known a document
stacking system including first and second hoppers for sequentially dispensing documents
therefrom, and a plurality of stackers for receiving documents from the hoppers, the
stackers including first and second common stackers which receive documents from both
the hoppers. The system includes first diverter means settable in operation to a first
position in which it guides documents dispensed by the first hopper to the first common
stacker or to a second position in which it diverts documents from the first hopper
to the second common stacker, and second diverter means settable in operation to a
first position in which it guides documents dispensed by the second hopper to the
second common stacker or to a second position in which it diverts documents from the
second hopper to the first common stacker. The system disclosed in this document may
be used for sorting documents, and it is not concerned with the problem of avoiding
inconvenience when a selected document dispenser fails to dispense documents because
of a malfunction or because it is exhausted of documents.
[0005] From US-A-4265440 there is known a paper feeding system for use in an electrophotographic
copying machine, the system supplying copying paper from one of two paper cassettes
to an image transfer station. The mode of operation of this known system is such that
when a selected cassette is out of paper the other cassette takes over the supply
of paper to the image transfer station, provided that the two cassettes hold the same
size of paper. There is no indication in this patent as to how the paper feeding system
could be used to supply paper to two processing stations.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for dispensing documents,
such as currency bills, in which the type of customer inconvenience referred to above
is largely overcome.
[0007] According to the invention there is provided a document dispensing system including
first and second dispensing means for sequentially dispensing documents therefrom,
first and second output stations, transport means for conveying documents from said
first dispensing means into a first path to said first output station and documents
from said second dispensing means into a second path to said second output station,
first diverter means selectively settable in operation to a first position in which
it guides documents dispensed by said first dispensing means to said first output
station or to a second position in which it diverts documents in said first path to
said second output station, and second diverter means selectively settable in operation
to a first position in which it guides documents dispensed by said second dispensing
means to said second output station or to a second position in which it diverts documents
in said second path to said first output station, characterized in that said first
dispensing means is responsive to a first signal for either sequentially dispensing
documents thereform or for generating a second signal when no documents are being
dispensed therefrom, said second dispensing means is responsive to a third signal
for either sequentially dispensing documents therefrom or for generating a fourth
signal when no documents are being dispensed therefrom, said first diverter means
is arranged to be set to its said second position in response to a fifth signal, and
said second diverter means is arranged to be set to its said second position in response
to a sixth signal, and further characterized by control means responsive to a said
second signal for producing said third and sixth signals and responsive to a said
fourth signal for producing said first and fifth signals.
[0008] It will be appreciated that a system in accordance with the present invention can
be used to minimize the down time of an automatic teller machine (ATM) by sharing
the currency dispensers of adjacent ATMs. Such sharing can be arranged to occur automatically
when one currency dispenser is either out of service because of a ' malfunction or
is out of currency.
[0009] One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which :
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a side view of a currency dispensing system ;
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 3 illustrates the various possible currency paths, depending upon the positions
of the flippers 15, and 152 of the system shown in Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a control circuit which may be used with the
currency dispensing system ;
Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of sensing and control elements in one of the
dispensers shown in Fig. 1 ; and
Figs. 6-14 illustrate a flow diagram giving the steps in the operation of the dispensing
system when a customer requests currency from one of two dispensers in the system
and that requested dispenser is inoperative or out of currency.
[0010] Referring now the drawings, Fig. 1 discloses a schematic diagram of a side view of
a fail safe currency dispensing system. Although the invention will now be described
in relation to a fail safe currency dispensing system for adjacent ATMs, it should
be relized that the invention could be utilized more broadly in any other system for
dispensing any other type of document.
[0011] The system shown in Fig. 1 includes first and second ATM units or machines 11
1 and 11
2, respectively, and a common transport mechanism 12 operationally coupled between
the ATM units 11
1 and 11
2.
[0012] ATM unit 11
1 includes a dispenser 13, for dispensing currency or bills of a first denomination,
a diverter (or flipper) 15
1 rotatable to either a clockwise (CW) or a counterclockwise (CCW) position, a diverter
position sensor 17
1, an output sensor 19, and an output station 21
1. The output station 21
1 normally can include: an output receptacle 23
1 which may be comprised of a stacker wheel 25, and a presenter plate 27
1, a numeric keyboard 29, (Fig. 4), a card reader (not shown) and a display (not shown).
[0013] The diverter 15, is affixed to a shaft 31, which is rotatably supported within a
protective cabinet 32. One end of a link 33, is fixed to the shaft 31
1. The other end of link 33, is pivotally joined to operating plunger 35, of a solenoid
37
1. One end of a spring 39, is operatively connected to the other end of link 33, as
shown, while the other end of spring 39, is connected to a fixed point 41
1 so as to enable the diverter 15
1 to channel a bill 42, that is dispensed from dispenser 13
1, into a first path through the transport mechanism 12, into the stacker wheel 25
1 whenever the solenoid 37
1 is deenergized.
[0014] Similarly, the ATM unit 11
2 includes elements 13
2, 15
2, 17
2, 19
2, 21
2, 23
2, 25
2, 27
2, 29
2 (Fig. 4), 31
2, 33
2 (Fig. 2), 35
2 (Fig. 2), 37
2 (Fig. 2), 39
2 (Fig. 2), 41
2 (Fig. 2) and a card reader (not shown) and a display (not shown) which are respectively
similar in structure and operation to the corresponding elements in ATM 11
1, which elements in ATM 11
1 (when shown) have the same integers as those in ATM 11
2 but with a subscript of 1 instead of 2.
[0015] The transport mechanism 12 is comprised of drive rollers 50-59, follower rollers
60-73, a transport drive motor 75 and pulley and gear train assembly 77.
[0016] Rollers 50-73 may be made from rubber or a non-marking black Neoprene material. The
drive rollers 50-59 are driven by the shaft (not shown) of the transport drive motor
75 by way of the pulley and gear train assembly 77. The follower rollers 60-73 are
positioned adjacent to the drive rollers 50-59 and are driven through compression
contact with the drive rollers. Each of the drive rollers 50-59 rotates only in the
direction of its associated arrow. As a result, each of the rollers 50-73 rotates
only in one direction.
[0017] Depending on the velocity of the bills 42 being dispensed from either of the dispensers
13
1 and 13
2, the sizes of the pulleys (not shown) in the assembly 77 are such as to get the same
surface velocity for the drive rollers 50-59 as that of the bills 42 being dispensed
from one of the dispensers. Thus, the gear ratios in the pulley and gear train assembly
77 are preselected to get the same surface velocity or speed for each of the drive
rollers 50-59 and, hence, for all of the rollers 50-73.
[0018] Bills 42 move edgewise from the dispensers 13
1 and 13
2 into and through the associated ones of the rollers 50-73. For ease of passing bills
42 edgewise through these rollers, successive nips of the roller pairs are positioned
close together. To accomplish this purpose, two different diameters of drive rollers
50-59 are utilized, with the smaller diameter drive rollers 50, 53, 54, 57 and 58
having the higher RPM to get the same surface velocity or speed as the larger diameter
drive rollers 51, 52, 55, 56 and 59.
[0019] To more clearly illustrate the operation of portions of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 will now also
be discussed. Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the cut line 2-2
in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, each of the drive and follower rollers 50-73 shown
in Fig. 1 represents an exemplary line of coaxially-aligned rollers, designated in
Fig. 2 by the corresponding integer but with the subscripts A, B, C and D. Each line
of drive and follower rollers 50-73 is spaced across the length of a bill 42 as the
bill is passed therethrough.
[0020] Each line of rollers 50-73 is appropriately mounted on an associated common shaft
by clips 79 to prevent side movement on the associated shaft. In addition, each line
of drive and follower rollers 50-73 has each end of its associated shaft coupled through
bearings mounted in vertical frame members 81 and 83 of protective cabinet 32 (Fig.
1). Furthermore, each line of drive rollers 50-59 has the end of its associated drive
shaft that passes through frame member 83 also coupled to the pulley and gear train
assembly 77.
[0021] The diverter 15
2 is comprised of an exemplary line of eight thin, flat flipper blades 15
2A-15
2H affixed or pinned to a common shaft 31
2 which is rotatably supported by bearings in the frame members 81 and 83. Similarly,
the diverter 15, is comprised of an exemplary line of eight thin, flat flipper blades
affixed to the shaft 31,. As shown in Fig. 1, a pair of flipper blades is mounted
on each side of each roller in a roller line, such as 71 or 65 (or 64 as indicated
in Fig. 1).
[0022] One end of a link 33
2 is fixed to the shaft 31
2, while the other end of the link 33
2 is pivotally joined to the operating plunger 35
2 of solenoid 37
2. One end of spring 39
2 is operatively connected to the other end of link 33
2, while the other end of spring 39
2 is connected to the fixed point 41
2 to enable the diverter 15
2 to channel a bill from dispenser 13
2 into a second path through the transport mechanism 12, into the stacker wheel 25
2, whenever the solenoid 37
2 is deenergized.
[0023] Stacker wheel 25
2 is comprised of an exemplary line of three wheels 25
2A, 25
2B and 25
2c. These wheels are affixed to a common shaft (not shown in Fig. 2) which is rotatably
supported by bearings (not shown) in the frame members 81 and 83. This shaft of stacker
wheel 25
2 is also coupled to appropriately selected gears (not shown) in the assembly 77 to
cause the stacker wheel 25
2 to be rotated at the desired velocity. Similarly, stacker wheel 25
1 is comprised exemplary line of three wheels affixed to the shaft 31
1.
[0024] Dispensed bills are collected in respective slots in each of the wheels 25
2A-25
2c of the stacker wheel 25
2 (or 26
1), such as shown by slot 85 (Fig. 1). In this manner bills 42 are collected in respective
slots 85 of the stacker wheel 25
2. As the stacker wheel 25
2 rotates in the direction shown by the associated arrow; bills are directed into the
presenter plate 27
2 to accumulate there in a stack 87 of bills 42. Another conveyor (not shown) could
be utilized to convey the accumulated stack 87 to some other destination. It should,
of course, be realized that the output receptacle 23
2 can be comprised of, for example, simply a box or container to sequentially receive
the bills 42, rather than a stacker wheel 25
2 and presenter plate 27
2. The stacker wheel 25, operates in the same manner as the stacker wheel 25
2.
[0025] The various possible currency paths through the transport mechanism 12 are shown
in Fig. 3. These paths depend upon the relative positions (CW or CCW) of the diverters
15, and 15
2.
[0026] In normal operation, both of the solenoids 37, (Fig. 1) and 37
2 (Fig. 2) are deenergized. When solenoid 37
1 is deenergized, diverter 15, is in its normal or CCW position, as shown by the dashed
outline 87. Similarly, when solenoid 37
2 is deenergized, diverter 15
2 is in its normal or CW position, as shown by the solid outline 89. Fig. 1 shows the
diverters 15
1 and 15
2 in their normal positions for normal operation.
[0027] As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, during normal operation dispenser 13
1 can sequentially feed bills 42 between rollers 50 and 60, between rollers 51 and
60, along a straight edge 91 of diverter 15
1, between rollers 52 and 61, between rollers 52 and 62 and between rollers 53 and
63 to the output receptacle 23
1. In a similar manner, during normal operation dispenser 13
2 can sequentially feed bills 42 between rollers 55 and 64, along a curved edge 93
of diverter 15
2, between rollers 55 and 65, between rollers 56 and 66, between rollers 56 and 67
and between rollers 57 and 68 to output receptacle 23
2.
[0028] When a customer requests currency from ATM 11, and dispenser 13, is either inoperative
or out of currency, solenoid 37
1 (Fig. 1) remains deenergized and solenoid 37
2 (Fig.2) is energized to pull diverter 15
2 to its CCW position, as shown by the dashed outline 95. Bills 42 are then sequentially
fed from the dispenser 13
2 in ATM 11
2, between rollers 55 and 64, along a straight edge 97 of diverter 15
2, between rollers 58 and 71, between rollers 59 and 72, between rollers 59 and 73,
between rollers 51 and 60, along the straight edge 91 of diverter 15
1, between rollers 52 and 61, between rollers 52 and 62 and between rollers 53 and
63 to the output receptacle 23, of resquested ATM 11
1. Thus, dispenser 13
2 in ATM 11
2 can alternately supply bills, when requested, to both the output receptacle 23, of
ATM 11
1 and the output receptacle 23
2 of ATM 11
2 whenever dispenser 13
1 is inoperative or out of bills. When dispenser 13, is repaired or restocked with
bills 42 and placed back in operation, normal operation is resumed with both of the
solenoids 37
1 (Fig. 1) and 37
2 (Fig. 2) being deenergized.
[0029] Similarly, when a customer requests currency from ATM 11
2 and dispenser 13
2 is either inoperative or out of bills, solenoid 37
2 (Fig. 2) is deenergized and solenoid 37
1 (Fig. 1) is energized to pull diverter 15
1 to its CW position, as shown by the solid outline 97. Bills 42 are then sequentially
fed from the dispenser 13, in ATM 11
1, between rollers 50 and 60, between rollers 51 and 60, along a curved edge 99 of
diverter 15
1, between rollers 51 and 69, between rollers 54 and 70, between rollers 56 and 67
and between rollers 57 and 68 to the output receptacle 23
2 of requested ATM 11
2. Thus, dispenser 13
1 in ATM 11
1 can alternately supply bills, when requested, to both the output receptacle 23
2 of ATM 11 and the output receptacle 23
1 of ATM 11
1 whenever dispenser 13
2 is inoperative or out of bills. When dispenser 13
2 is repaired or restocked with bills 42 and placed back in operation, normal operation
is resumed with both of the solenoids 37
1 (Fig. 1) and 37
2 (Fig. 2) being deenergized.
[0030] The distance between successive nips of roller pairs in the above-discussed dispensing
paths through the transport mechanism is less than the minimum width of the bill 42
being dispensed.
[0031] It should be noted at this time that paper guides (not shown) may be selectively
positioned among the assembly of rollers 50-73 to help guide the bills 42 in a dispensing
path into and from the nips between associated roller pairs.
[0032] Referring now to Fig. 4, a schematic block diagram is illustrated of a control circuit
which may be used to control the dispensing operations of components of Fig. 1.
[0033] Information signals from flipper position sensors 17
1 and 17
2 and output sensors 19
1 and 19
2 are respectively applied through buffer/drivers 101
1, 101
2, 103
1, and 103
2 to a peripheral interface adapter (PIA) 105 to a microprocessor 107.
[0034] It should be noted at this time that each of the sensors 17
1, 17
2, 19
1 and 19
2 can include a light emitting diode (LED) and a photosensor (not shown) oppositely
positioned across a preselected portion of one of the dispensing paths. The passage
of a bill 42 or one of the diverters 15, and 15
2 between a LED and its associated photosensor interrupts the light path therebetween,
causing the photosensor to develop and apply a signal to the microprocessor 107 to
indicate the obstruction across the associated dispensing path. In this manner, each
of the output sensors 19, and 19
2 would generate a signal each time that a bill is outputted from the transport mechanism
12 past that sensor. Similarly, each of the diverter sensors 17, and 17
2 would generate a signal to indicate to the microprocessor 107 the position of the
associated one of the diverter 15, and 15
2. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, both of the diverters are in their normal positions,
each blocking the light path between the LED and photosensor in its associated one
of the diverter sensors 17, and 17
2. When diverter solenoid 37
1 (37
2) is energized, diverter 15
1 (15
2) moves to its CW (CCW) position, unblocking the light path between the LED and photosensor
in diverter sensor 17
1 (17
2).
[0035] In the extraction of currency, each of the ATM units 11
1 and 11
2 requires a customer to insert his ATM credit card into the ATM unit. This credit
card contains account information written on a magnetic stripe. The customer next
enters into the selected one of the numeric keyboards 29, and 29
2 his personal ATM identification number which corresponds in a predetermined manner
to the account information on his ATM credit card. Then the customer enters into the
selected keyboard his requested currency amount.
[0036] Information signals from keyboards 29
1 and 29
2 are applied through respective associated buffer/driver circuits (not shown) to the
microprocessor 107 by way of the PIA 105.
[0037] Upon receiving a request for currency, the microprocessor 107 starts extracting and
executing a software program from a program read only memory (ROM) 109, using a random
access memory (RAM) 111 to store temporary data in temporary memory locations. In
the execution of the program from the ROM 109, the microprocessor basically performs
the following operations.
[0038] In response to a request for currency from one of the keyboards 29, and 29
2, the microprocessor 107 first checks to see if the dispenser (13
1 or 13
2) associated with the requesting one of the output stations 21, and 21
2 (Fig. 1) is not inoperative and not out of bills. If the associated dispenser was
inoperative or out of bills the last time it was used, it would send signals to indicate
that condition to the microprocessor 107 via an associated PIA. As shown in Fig. 4,
the dispensers 13, and 13
2 are coupled to the microprocessor 107 by way of PIAs 113
1 and 113
2, respectively. If the associated dispenser is not inoperative and not out of bills,
the microprocessor 107 then checks the diverter position sensors 17, and 17
2. The diverter position sensors 17
1 and 17
2 respectively send to the microprocessor 107 signals indicative of the positions of
the diverters 15
1 and 15
2.
[0039] The microprocessor 107 will not enable one of the dispensers 13, and 13
2 to dispense bills until the diverters 15, and 15
2 are in the proper positions to transport the bills to the requesting one of the output
stations 21
1 and 21
2. If the sensors 17, and 17
2 indicate that one or both of the associated diverters 15, and 15
2 are not in the proper positions to transport currency to the desired one of the output
receptacles 23
1 and 23
2, the microprocessor 107 will selectively supply signals by way of PIA 105 to power
drivers 115
1 and 115
2 to cause diverter solenoids 37
1 and 37
2 to respectively position the diverters 15, and 15
2 so that currency can be subsequently dispensed to the proper receptacle. Such positioning
of the diverters 15
1 and 15
2 under various operating conditions has been previously discussed in relation to Figs.
1-3.
[0040] After the diverters 15
1 and 15
2 have been correctly positioned in response to a keyboard request for currency, the
microprocessor 107 then applies an energizing signal by way of power driver 117 to
energize an AC relay 119. Upon being energized, relay 119 applies an AC voltage to
the transport drive motor 75 which, in turn, starts driving the drive rollers 50-59
(Fig. 1) by way of the pulley and gear train assembly 77. Finally, after the drive
rollers 50-59 have reached the proper surface speed, the microprocessor 107 sends
an enabling signal to the associated one of the dispensers via its associated PIA
to enable that dispenser to start sequentially dispensing bills to the proper one
of the output receptacles 23
1 and 23
2.
[0041] Each bill from the dispensing dispenser passes through the transport mechanism 12
and past the associated one of the output sensors 19
1 and 19
2 before it goes to the output receptacle of the requesting output station. The associated
output sensor sends a signal to the microprocessor 107 each time that a dispensed
bill passes that output sensor. In this manner the microprocessor 107 keeps track
of how many bills have been dispensed and knows when the associated dispenser has
finished dispensing the amount of bills requested by a customer. When the requested
amount of bills has been dispensed, the microprocessor 107 sends a disabling signal
to the associated dispenser to stop that dispenser from dispensing any more bills
of that denomination.
[0042] It should be noted at this time that each of the dispensers 13
1 and 13
2 can store bills of one denomination, such as twenty dollar bills in U.S. currency,
in a first internal bill hopper (not shown) and bills of another denomination, such
as five dollar bills in U.S. currency, in a second internal bill hopper (not shown).
Such a dispenser is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,179,031.
[0043] When the dispensers 13
1 and 13
2 are each implemented to contain two different internal bill hoppers, as described
in US-A-4.179.031. the microprocessor 107 can enable the associated dispenser to dispense
bills of a second denomination. The dispensing operation for the second denomination
of bill would be the same as that previously discussed for the first denomination
of bill and, hence, need not be further discussed. However, whenever two-denomination
bill dispensers are used in the invention, different dispensing paths through the
transport mechanism 12 would be utilized. Such dispensing paths from the dispensers
13
1 and 13
2, while not shown, are similar to the dispensing paths previously discussed. For these
additional dispensing paths the system would require additional structure respectively
similar to the transport mechanism 12, diverters 15
1 and 15
2, solenoids 37
1 and 37
2, sensors 17
1, 17
2, 19, and 19
2, buffer drivers 101
1, 101
2, 103
1 and 103
2, power drivers 115
i and 115
2 and PIA 105.
[0044] After the associated dispenser has finished dispensing the correct amount of requested
bills and is disabled by the microprocessor 107, the microprocessor 107 turns off
the transport drive motor 75 to terminate the dispensing operation.
[0045] Structurally, each of the buffer/drivers 101
1, 101
2, 103, and 103
2 can be implemented by means of a Fairchild Semiconductor 7407 Hex Buffer/Driver;
each of the power drivers 115
1, 115
2 and 117 can be implemented by means of a Motorola MC 1413 High Current Darlington
Driver ; each of the PIAs 105, 113
i and 113
2 can be implemented by means of a Motorola 6821 PIA ; microprocessor 107 can be an
Intel 8085 AH microprocessor; ROM 109 can be an Intel 2716 EPROM ; and RAM 111 can
be a Motorola 4116 B RAM.
[0046] Referring now to .Fig. 5, a brief description will now be given of some of the sensing
and control elements contained in each of the dispensers 13
1 and 13
2 of Fig. 1. Since the structure and operation of each of the dispensers 13, and 13
2 are similar, only one dispenser will be discussed.
[0047] Essentially, a dispenser is comprised of a pick solenoid 121, a reject flipper and
solenoid 122, a dispenser drive motor 122A, a low bill sensor 124, a dispenser output
sensor 125, a reject output sensor 126 and a multiple bill detection sensor 127. Dispenser
drive motor 122A receives AC power from an AC power source 122B by way of a relay
123, whenever the relay 123 is energized. The elements 121, 122 and 123 through 127
are respectively coupled through buffer/drivers 131 through 137 to the microprocessor
107 by way of its associated one of the PIAs 113, and 113
2. Buffer/drivers 131-137 are similar to buffer/drivers 101
1, 101
2, 103
1 and 103
2 shown in Fig. 4.
[0048] Signals from the sensors 124-127 indicate to the microprocessor 107 the status of
these sensors. In response to a customer request for currency and to the status of
signals from the sensors 124-127, the microprocessor 107 outputs signals to control
the operations of the pick solenoid 121, reject flipper and solenoid 122 and dispenser
drive motor 122A, as discussed below.
[0049] After receiving a customer request for bills, the microprocessor 107 sends a signal
through buffer/driver 133 to energize the relay 123 to start the dispenser drive motor
122A. Then microprocessor 107 sends a signal to pick solenoid 121 to actuate the picking
device (not shown) that picks a bill (not shown) from a bill hopper (not shown) and
feeds it along a dispensing path (not shown) within the dispenser 13
1. As the picked bill enters the dispensing path, it goes through the multiple bill
detection sensor 127, which determines if it is one or more bills. If a multiple bill
is sensed by the sensor 127, the microprocessor 107 sends a signal to the reject flipper
and solenoid 122 to energize a reject solenoid (not shown) to reposition a reject
flipper (not shown) in order to reroute the double bill into a reject bin or hopper
(not shown).
[0050] As soon as the multiple bill leaves the dispensing path and goes into the reject
hopper, the reject output sensor 126 sends a signal to the microprocessor 107 to indicate
that the multiple bill has been rejected. The microprocessor 107 then resets the reject
flipper in reject flipper and solenoid 122 to its normal position and re-energizes
the pick solenoid 121 to cause the picking device to pick and dispense another bill
to take the place of the multiple bill. If that bill is a single bill, it will be
passed through the dispensing path and through the dispenser output sensor 125 into
an output tray (not shown). The dispenser output sensor 125 then sends a signal to
the microprocessor 107 to indicate that the bill has been successfully outputted from
the dispenser. Microprocessor 107 then counts that bill as being dispensed from the
dispenser.
[0051] The above dispenser operation would be repeated until the dispenser has dispensed
the requested amount of currency.
[0052] The low bill sensor 124 sends a signal to the microprocessor 107 when the bill hopper
is low on bills. As a consequence of such a signal, the microprocessor 107 would take
the dispenser out of service, preventing any more bills from being dispensed from
that dispenser until the dispenser is restocked with bills of that denomination.
[0053] Each of the dispensers 13, and 13
2 has a similar operation for dispensing bills of a second denomination, as described
in previously mentioned U.S. Patent No. 4,179,031.
[0054] For a more detailed description of the step-by- step sequence involved in the operation
of the fail safe document dispensing system disclosed in Figs. 1-5, reference is now
made to Figs. 6-14. These figures show the essential operational steps that are involved
after a customer at output station 21
2 has entered his credit card and ID number and made a currency request. As indicated
previously, these operational steps are controlled by the microprocessor 107 during
the execution of the software program that is extracted from the ROM 109. It should,
of course, be realized that similar operational steps would be involved for a customer
at output station 21, making a currency request.
[0055] Since a currency request was initially made at output station 21
2, the fail safe dispensing system first tries to dispense a bill from dispenser 13
2 and send it to output station 21
2. As a result, the microprocessor 107 first checks to see if dispenser 13
2 is operational. If it is known to be bad from a previous dispensing operation, the
program would move to node A and try to dispense a bill from dispenser 13, to output
station 21
2.
[0056] If dispenser 13
2 is still operational, low bill sensor 124 (Fig. 5) would be checked to find out if
dispenser 13
2 has enough bills. If there are not enough bills in dispenser 13
2, a low currency failure would be flagged or logged for dispenser 13
2 and the program would move to node A to try to dispense a bill from dispenser 13,
to output station 21
2.
[0057] If dispenser 13
2 is operational and contains enough bills, the system starts an operation to dispense
a bill from dispenser 13
2 to output station 21
2. The first thing the system does is to set the flippers 15, and 15
2 in their proper positions to enable a bill from dispenser 13
2 to pass through the transport mechanism 12 to output station 21
2. First, solenoid 37
2 is de-energized. This should cause diverter 15
2 to be in its CW position. Flipper position sensor 17
2 is tested to see if flipper 15
2 is in its CW position. If flipper 15
2 is not in its CW position, a transport mechanism 12 failure is logged and the program
moves to exit Z to terminate the system operation.
[0058] If diverter 15
2 is in its CW position, solenoid 37
1 is de-energized to cause flipper 15, to be in its CCW position. Flipper position
sensor 17, is then tested to see if flipper 15, is in its CCW position. If flipper
15, is not in its CCW position, a transport mechanism 12 failure is logged and the
program moves to exit Z to terminate the system operation.
[0059] If both of flippers 15, and 15
2 are in their proper de-energized positions, the dispenser 13
2 drive motor 122A (Fig. 5) and the transport drive motor 75 (Fig. 1) are both turned
on and allowed to reach stable speeds.
[0060] The next routine is to pick a single bill in the dispenser 13
2. The pick solenoid 121 (Fig. 5) is energized to cause a bill picker (not shown) to
pick a bill from a bill hopper inside of the dispenser 13
2. After a bill is picked, it is checked by the multiple bill detection sensor 127
(Fig. 5) to see if two or more bills were simultaneously picked. If sensor 127 indicates
a multiple bill, the reject diverter and solenoid unit 122 (Fig. 5) is set to automatically
detour the multiple bill to a reject hopper (not shown). Then the flipper and solenoid
unit 122 is reset. In this manner, each multiple bill is rejected, while each single
bill is passed. After a single bill has been picked, the next routine is to move that
picked bill from the bill picker to the dispenser 13
2 output.
[0061] Whenever a single bill is picked and not rejected, the operation moves to node E
at which time the multiple bill detection sensor 127 signals the microprocessor 107
to start a dispenser jam timer in the software program from the ROM 109. The time
length of the dispenser jam timer is fixed since it is known how long it takes a bill
to be moved past the output sensor 125 (Fig. 5) of dispenser 13
2 after the bill is picked and not rejected.
[0062] After the dispenser jam timer is started, the microprocessor 107 waits to see if
a bill moves past the output sensor 125 of the dispenser 13
2 before the dispenser jam timer expires. If the dispenser jam timer expires before
a bill is outputted, this means that the bill is jammed inside the dispenser 13
2. In this case, a dispenser 13
2 failure is logged, the transport drive motor 75 and the dispenser 13
2 drive motor are both turned off, and the program moves to node A to try to dispense
a bill from dispenser 13
1 to output station 21
2.
[0063] If the bill is picked properly and is moved past the output sensor 125 of the dispenser
13
2 before the dispenser jam timer expires, the next routine is to move that bill from
the output of the dispenser 13
2 through the transport mechanism 12 to the stacker wheel 25
2 at output station 21
2.
[0064] Each bill that exits from the dispenser 13
2 causes the output sensor 125 of dispenser 13
2 to signal the microprocessor 107 to start a fail safe jam timer in the software program
from the ROM 109. The duratibn of the fail safe jam timer is fixed since the distance
from the dispenser 13
2 to the stacker wheel 25
2 and the surface speed of the transport mechanism 12 are both known.
[0065] After the fail safe jam timer is started the microprocessor 107 waits to see if a
bill moves past output sensor 19
2 (Fig. 1) before the fail safe jam timer expires. If the bill doesn't reach the output
sensor 19
2 before the fail safe jam timer expires, a transport mechanism 12 failure is logged.
Because such a failure is very critical, the program then moves to exit Y to terminate
the entire system operation.
[0066] If a bill is detected by the output sensor 19
2 before the fail safe jam timer expires, and is thus delivered to the stacker wheel
25
2 of output station 21
2, the operation is finished for the dispensing of that bill. In such a case, the microprocessor
107 decrements the customer-requested number of bills by one and decides whether or
not any more bills have to be dispensed by the dispenser 13
2. If more bills have to be dispensed, the program goes back into the loop at nodes
S and repeats the steps shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 for each additional bill that has
to be dispensed. When the total number of requested bills has been dispensed from
dispenser 13
2 to output station 21
2, the dispensing operation is complete and the program moves to exit Y to terminate
the entire system operation. At exit Y all of the motors are turned off, the flipper
solenoids are deenergized and everything is powered down to prevent any waste of power.
[0067] In relation to Figs. 6 and 8 is was mentioned that if anything went wrong in trying
to dispense a bill from dispenser 13
2, the routine would branch to node A and attempt to dispense a bill from dispenser
13, to output station 21
2. Routine A will now be examined.
[0068] The operational steps involved from routine A on, as shown in Figs. 10-13, are similar
to the previously discussed operational steps shown in Figs. 6-9. At the start of
routine A, all of the motors have been turned off and the flipper solenoids 37, and
37
2 are in their de-energized states.
[0069] The microprocessor 107 first checks to see if dispenser 13, is operational. If it
is known to be bad from a previous dispensing operation, the program would log a failure
for both of dispensers 13, and 13
2 and move to exit Z to terminate the system operation because neither dispenser is
operative.
[0070] If dispenser 13
1 is still operational, microprocessor 107 checks the low bill sensor 124 (Fig. 5)
to find out if dispenser 13, has enough bills. If there are not enough bills in dispenser
13
1, a low currency failure would be logged for dispenser 13, and the program would move
to exit Z to terminate the system operation because neither dispenser is operative.
[0071] Since the initial currency request was made at output station 21
2 and dispenser 13
2 is inoperative, the fail safe system will try to move a bill from dispenser 13
1 to output station 21
2. Because the dispenser 13, of ATM 11
1 will be used to supply currency to the output station 21
2 of ATM 11
2, the flippers 15, and 15
2 may have to be in different positions. Consequently, the microprocessor 107 will
de-energize solenoid 37
2 to move flipper 15
2 to its CW position and then test flipper position sensor 17
2 to see if flipper 15
2 is CW. Next, the microprocessor 107 will energize solenoid 37, to move flipper 15,
to its CW position and then test flipper position sensor 17
1 to see if flipper 15, is CW. If either of the flippers 15, and 15
2 is not in its CW position, a transport mechanism 12 failure is logged and the program
moves to exit Z to terminate the fail safe system operation.
[0072] If both of flippers 15
1 and 15
2 are in their CW positions, the drive motor 122A (Fig. 5) of the dispenser 13, and
the transport drive motor 75 (Fig. 1) are turned on and allowed to reach stable speeds.
Then a bill is picked by a bill picker (not shown) from a hopper inside of the dispenser
13
1 by energizing the pick solenoid 121 (Fig. 5) in that dispenser 13
1. After the bill is picked it is checked by the multiple bill detection sensor 127
(Fig. 5) in dispenser 13
1 to see if two or more bills were simultaneously picked. If a multiple bill is detected,
the reject flipper and solenoid unit 122 (Fig. 5) of dispenser 13
1 is set to automatically detour the multiple bill to a reject hopper (not shown) in
dispenser 13
1. Then the reject flipper and solenoid unit 122 is reset to its normal position.
[0073] Another bill is picked and tested for a multiple bill. If another multiple bill is
detected, it is rejected in the same manner discussed above. If a single bill is picked
and no multiple bill is detected, the operation moves to node G where a dispenser
jam timer is started in the software program from the ROM 109 as the bill is moved
from the multiple bill detection sensor 127 toward the output sensor 125 of the dispenser
13
1. If the dispenser jam timer expires before a bill passes the output sensor 125 of
dispenser 13
1, a dispenser 13, failure is logged ant the program moves to exit Y to terminate the
entire system operation.
[0074] It should be noted that the expiration of the jam timers for both of the dispensers
13
2 and 13
1 produces different system operations. If the jam timer initially fails for dispenser
13
2, dispenser 13
1 can be tried. However, if there is also a jam in dispenser 13
1, there is no other dispenser to try and the system operation must be terminated.
Although, this was the operation that was described above, is should be realized that
fail safe systems utilizing three or more ATMs could be implemented within the purview
of this invention.
[0075] If the bill is picked properly and is moved past the output sensor 125 of dispenser
13, before the dispenser jam timer expires, the next routine is to move that bill
from the output of the dispenser 13, through the transport mechanism 12 to the stacker
wheel 25
2 at output station 21
2.
[0076] Each bill that exits from the dispenser 13, causes the output sensor 125 of dispenser
13, to signal the microprocessor 107 to start the fail safe jam timer in the software
program from the ROM 109. The duration of the fail safe jam timer is fixed by the
surface speed of the transport mechanism 12 and the longer of the two distances from
the dispensers 13
1 and 13
2 to the stacker wheel 25
2 of the output station 21
2.
[0077] If the fail safe jam timer expires before the bill from dispenser 13
1 reaches stacker wheel 25
2, this means that the bill has become jammed in the transport mechanism 12. In such
a case, a transport mechanism 12 failure is logged and the program then moves to exit
Y to terminate the entire system operation.
[0078] If the bill is detected by the output sensor 19
2 before the fail safe jam timer expires, and is thus delivered to the stacker wheel
25
2 of output station 21
2, the operation is finished for the dispensing of that bill. The microprocessor 107
then decrements the customer-requested number of bills by one and decides whether
or not any more bills have to be dispensed by dispenser 13
1. If more bills have to be dispensed, the program goes back into the loop at node
J and repeats the steps shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 for each additional bill that
has to be dispensed. When the total number of requested bills has been dispensed from
dispenser 13
1 to output station 21
2, the dispensing operation is complete and the program moves to exit Y to terminate
the entire system operation.
[0079] Fig. 14 illustrates the operational steps involved in exits Y and Z. At exit Y, the
transport drive motor 75 and the drive motors of dispensers 13, and 13
2 are all turned off. Since none of these motors were on at exit Z, exit Z enters the
operation at this time. Then the flipper solenoids 37
1 and 37
2 are de-energized. In this manner the fail safe system is set to an idle state to
conserve power. As a convenience, a status bit is then set to indicate whether or
not the dispensing operation was successfully completed. The system operation is then
ended.
[0080] The invention thus provides a system for automatically and mutually sharing the currency
dispensers in adjacent ATMs when one dispenser is either out of service because of
a malfunction or out of currency.